The arrest of high-profile Australian journalist Cheng Lei in China on suspicion of ‘criminal activity endangering China’s national security’ triggered a series of events that was coined by some commentators as a unique diplomatic standoff. This included Australian correspondents, Bill Birtles and Mike Smith, being … Continue readingJOURNALISTS: PAWNS IN A VOLATILE CHESSBOARD?
With countries increasingly utilizing technology well past what would have previously been imagined, it is crucial to understand how this area has expanded and the real concerns that emerge particularly around the area of privacy. Australia is investing in a facial recognition system called “The Capability” and … Continue readingTHE FACE RACE: PITFALLS OF FACIAL RECOGNITION
On December 2018, the Australian government passed the Assistance and Access Act 2018, a controversial law requiring technology companies to allow security agencies and the police to access encrypted messages of Australians. This law is the first in the world to have such reach and … Continue readingDATA ENCRYPTION AND LAW ENFORCEMENT – A STARTLING ADVANCEMENT
Digital currency became an even hotter topic last month when the Libra Association, made of Facebook and 27 partner companies such as Uber, Paypal and Mastercard, announced the new block chain-based “Libra Coin”. The new currency, Libra, will be able to be used for purchases … Continue readingLIBRA: THE NEW COIN ON THE BLOCK
At 1.40pm on the 15th of March, New Zealand saw one of its darkest days since 1990 when Brenton Tarrant, an Australian white supremacist, initiated twin shootings at Mosques in Christchurch during Friday prayers. These devastating attacks resulted in fifty people losing their lives and … Continue readingFROM THE ASHES WE RISE, THE LESSONS LEARNT FROM NEW ZEALAND
International Women’s Day, a brief history and a bright future. “I am not free while any other woman is unfree, even when her shackles are very different from my own.” – Audre Lorde For almost a century, March 8th has been a revolutionary stand point … Continue readingMORE POWERFUL TOGETHER
Pivot’s closing article for 2018 indicated that global affairs are shifting to a new normal and so must get used to expecting the unexpected. Only one month in to 2019 and we have been witness to both the thinkable and unthinkable. To say January was … Continue readingAWAKENING TO 2019 – JANUARY IN REVIEW
Make a list of everything that happened in international politics or made the world section of the news in the last two weeks. Now look over it. Was Poland there? Katowice? Clean coal? What about even just the word climate? Don’t be surprised if two, … Continue readingC.O.P. WHAT? A RUNDOWN OF THE CLIMATE CONFERENCE AS THE WORLD DESCENDS INTO MORE CHAOS
By Hamah Hosen – Last weekend, leaders of the world’s biggest economies gathered in Buenos Aries for the 13th G20 Summit. The agenda of the 2018 summit focused on the future of work, infrastructure for development, and sustainable food projects. However, attention instead circled around … Continue readingSNAPSHOTS OF 2018 G20 SUMMIT
November 30th marked the passing of George H.W. Bush, 41st President of the United States, at the age of 94. The world lost a humble yet underrated leader who was defined by nothing less than his kind temperament and trusting manner. It was not widely … Continue readingVALE GEORGE H.W. BUSH: A TRIBUTE TO AMERICA’S 41ST PRESIDENT